[Kingdom Hearts][Epic Mickey] Lost Lights

That Poor Library...

Hey... it's been awhile. About a good month or so. I'm sorry. I literally had a season where I lost all will to write anything. Hopefully the next chapter will come faster to those of you who are actually enjoying this.

Thank you for reading!

. . .

Separation was just one step away from isolation. It sounded redundant (and it was), but it was the only thought Aqua's mind kept bringing her back to. This makeshift maze was not easing any of the goosebumps on her skin. Paintings were the biggest building block for the wall. Sure, some of the paintings repeated who was depicted in them, but the stares from the paintings made Aqua feel like she was being watched. Whenever she came across a little Beetleworx, her surprised swing was what took it out more than conscious effort. She was really starting to berate herself for getting so antsy.

But wasn't that just the thing? She's been almost on edge since they've arrived in Wasteland. Something about this world felt wrong. She could almost feel the ebb of darkness flow out of the ground as naturally as air coming through a vent. The citizens of Wasteland were just as casual to be around it. It was their lifestyle, the way they simply went about their day. She had never been in a world where everyone was just so... desensitized to the corruption of darkness. Did they even know that darkness could corrupt?

A shiver ran up her back as she took out another Beetleworx. Three days in Wasteland and they still barely had the pieces of what held this world together. Sabrina had a Chirithy like Ven. Oswald kept Sabrina under lock and key to keep her safe from something. There had been an event called The Thinner Disaster that seemed to birth the problems for all of Wasteland's citizens, and they apparently were still suffering from it. If it wasn't for bad luck, this poor world wouldn't have had any. It still wasn't enough. There were still things being withheld from everyone. But was it within her right as a Keyblade master to look further into? Maybe-

Aqua's thoughts were put on hold when she heard a noise come from around a corner. She held her Keyblade in preparation as the noise became louder. For a fraction of a second, Aqua considered placing down a trap for the upcoming something to trip on, but she immediately thought differently when she saw who it was.

"Terra." she said in a surprised gasp.

The young man had yet to register anyone else was around the corner, allowing him to jump a bit in surprise. He looked up at her to give an anxious, "Aqua!" in return. Soon after, the two of them dissolved into a short, and very relieved, chuckle. They moved closer together, as if their unease would vanish the moment they were within arm's distance.

"Have you seen Ven yet?" Aqua asked. Her Keyblade was still out despite knowing Terra was here now.

"No." the young man said with a shake of his head. "Have you?"

The Keyblade master also shook her head. "There hasn't been any sign of Sabrina and Madame Leona either." she added. "Trying to navigate through this maze hasn't been easy. I understand that the Lonesome Manor is nothing more than a haunted house, but..."

"But this world's darkness is making everything more unsettling."

Aqua held her Keyblade a bit tighter.

"Yes." she agreed with a small nod. "Does it bother you too? The despair in this world is too great, yet life continues as if it doesn't matter. Or... or maybe it does but everyone is just so complacent against it..."

"Well, if it helps," Terra mused as he placed a firm hand on her shoulder, "I'd much rather be in Disney Town than here. Rumble Racing would definitely take the edge off this place- or any kind of foot race for that matter. Something to get that blood pumping, you know? At least you'd be running from something."